Embassy of the United States of America ▪ Public Affairs Section

INFORMATION RESOURCE CENTER

Information Resource Center | 4 Hlybochytska St. | 04050 Kyiv, Ukraine Tel.: (380 44) 490-4120/4059 | Fax: (380 44) 490-4092 E-mail: ircukraine@state.gov | kyiv.usembassy.gov

EEnnvviirroonnmmeennttaall IIssssuueess

June 2009

Global business leaders assembled in

Copenhagen called for ambitious, global

action on climate change.

As the World Business Summit on Climate

Change drew to a close, business

announced that a new global climate treaty

must set bold targets for emissions

reductions by 2020 and 2050, limiting the

global average rise in temperature to a

maximum of 2°C compared to pre-

industrial levels. This requires immediate

and substantial action leading to an

abatement of around 17Gt versus business-

as-usual by 2020, they said.

Emissions reduction at this scale will profoundly affect business but the "Call" states that

business leaders stand ready to make those changes and support ambitious political decisions

that support economic recovery and safeguard the planet.

This and further recommendations form the basis of "The Copenhagen Call" – a concise

statement, which sets out the elements business believes are required for an effective new

global climate treaty to be forged.

http://www.copenhagenclimatecouncil.com/get-informed/news/text-of-the-copenhagen-call.htm

View this document in PDF at: http://kyiv.usembassy.gov/files/irc_enviro_062009.pdf

AP Photo/POLFOTO

THE COPENHAGEN CALL Presented at the World Business Summit on Climate Change Copenhagen, 24-26 May 2009

Embassy of the United States of America ▪ Public Affairs Section

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More about environmental issues: http://www.america.gov/global/environ.html

WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY 2009

World Environment Day (WED) was established by the UN General Assembly in 1972

to mark the opening of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment.

Commemorated yearly on 5 June, WED is one of the principal vehicles through which

the United Nations stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and enhances

political attention and action. The day's agenda is to:

1. Give a human face to environmental issues;

2. Empower people to become active agents of sustainable and equitable

development;

3. Promote an understanding that communities are pivotal to changing attitudes

towards environmental issues;

4. Advocate partnership which will ensure all nations and peoples enjoy a safer and

more prosperous future.

The theme for WED 2009 is 'Your Planet Needs You-UNite to Combat Climate

Change'. It reflects the urgency for nations to agree on a new deal at the crucial climate

convention meeting in Copenhagen some 180 days later in the year, and the links with

overcoming poverty and improved management of forests.

This year‘s host is Mexico which reflects the growing role of the Latin American

country in the fight against climate change, including its growing participation in the

carbon markets.

Mexico is also a leading partner in UNEP's Billion Tree Campaign. The country, with

the support of its President and people, has spearheaded the pledging and planting of

some 25 per cent of the trees under the campaign. Accounting for around 1.5 per cent

of global greenhouse gas emissions, the country is demonstrating its commitment to

climate change on several fronts.

Mexican President Felipe Calderon states that the WED celebration will ―further

underline Mexico's determination to manage natural resources and deal with the most

demanding challenge of the 21st century – climate change.‖

http://www.unep.org/wed/2009/english/

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GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS ............................................................................................................................ 6

INTERNATIONAL ENERGY OUTLOOK 2009. Report DOE/EIA-0484(2009). Department of Energy, May 27, 20096 EPA PROPOSES NEW REGULATIONS FOR THE NATIONAL RENEWABLE FUEL STANDARD PROGRAM

FOR 2010 AND BEYOND.U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. May 5, 2009. .......................................................... 6 YELLOW LIGHT ON GREEN JOBS. Subcommittee on Green Jobs and the New Economy, U.S. Senate Environment

and Public Works Committee. April 2009. ........................................................................................................................ 6 A TIMELINE OF ENVIRONMENTAL TREATIES. America.gov. April 2009. ............................................................. 6 HOW CBO ESTIMATES THE COSTS OF REDUCING GREENHOUSE-GAS EMISSIONS. Congressional Budget

Office. April 24, 2009. ....................................................................................................................................................... 7 THE NOAA ANNUAL GREENHOUSE GAS INDEX (AGGI). National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration.

David J. Hofmann. April 22, 2009. .................................................................................................................................... 7 2009 U.S. GREENHOUSE GAS INVENTORY REPORT. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. April 15, 2009. ..... 7 EARTH DAY – TOBACCO CONTROL GUIDE. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. April 2009. ................. 7

CONGRESSIONAL DOCUMENTS ...................................................................................................................... 8

AMERICAN CLEAN ENERGY AND SECURITY ACT OF 2009. Discussion Draft Summary. May 22, 2009 ............ 8

THE WHITE HOUSE .............................................................................................................................................. 8

PRESIDENT OBAMA SEEKS NEW FUEL EFFICIENCY STANDARDS. By Michelle Austein Brooks, U.S.

Department of State Staff Writer. 19 May 2009 ................................................................................................................. 8

THINK TANKS AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS ........................................................................... 8

AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION ............................................................. 8 WHAT‘S THE STATE OF YOUR AIR? American Lung Association. April 29, 2009. .................................................. 8

ARCTIC COUNCIL ........................................................................ 9 ARCTIC OFFSHORE OIL AND GAS GUIDELINES 2009. Arctic Council, April 29, 2009 .......................................... 9 ARCTIC MARINE SHIPPING ASSESSMENT 2009 REPORT. Arctic Council ............................................................. 9

COOPERATIVE ALLIANCE FOR REFUGE ENHANCEMENT (CARE) ..................................... 9 RESTORING AMERICA‘S WILDLIFE REFUGES 2009. The Cooperative Alliance for Refuge Enhancement (CARE),

May 22, 2009 ...................................................................................................................................................................... 9 COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS .............................................................. 10

THE NATIONAL INTEREST AND THE LAW OF THE SEA.Scott G. Borgerson. Council Special Report No. 46.

Council on Foreign Relations Press, May 2009 ............................................................................................................... 10 ECONOMIC CHALLENGES FOR CLIMATE CHANGE POLICY. Toni Johnson, Staff Writer. CFR Backgrounder,

Updated: May 19, 2009 .................................................................................................................................................... 10 ADDRESSING THE CRISIS IN AMERICA'S OCEANS. Scott G. Borgerson, Visiting Fellow for Ocean Governance.

CFR, April 7, 2009 ........................................................................................................................................................... 10 PREPARED REMARKS: THE GLOBAL IMPLICATIONS OF A WARMING ARCTIC. Council on Foreign

Relations. Scott G. Borgerson. May 5, 2009. ................................................................................................................... 11 THE CANADIAN OIL SANDS: Energy Security vs. Climate Change. Michael A. Levi, David M. Rubenstein. Council

Special Report No. 47. CFR May 2009 ............................................................................................................................ 11 ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND ................................................................ 11

REINVENTING TRANSIT: AMERICAN COMMUNITIES FINDING SMARTER, CLEANER, FASTER

TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS. Environmental Defense Fund. April 22, 2009. .................................................... 11 EUROPEAN ENVIRONMENT AGENCY .......................................................... 11

PROGRESS TOWARDS THE EUROPEAN 2010 BIODIVERSITY TARGET. European Environment Agency, 22

May 2009 .......................................................................................................................................................................... 11 LOOKING BACK ON LOOKING FORWARD: A REVIEW OF EVALUATIVE SCENARIO LITERATURE.

European Environment Agency, 29 Apr 2009 ................................................................................................................. 12 GLOBAL CORAL REEF MONITORING NETWORK .................................................. 12

STATUS OF CORAL REEFS OF THE WORLD: 2008. Wilkinson, C. (ed.) Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network,

2008 12 GREENPEACE ........................................................................... 12

AMERICA'S SHARE OF THE CLIMATE CRISIS: A STATE-BY-STATE CARBON FOOTPRINT. Greenpeace, May

27, 2009 ............................................................................................................................................................................ 12 ENERGY [R]EVOLUTION: A SUSTAINABLE USA ENERGY OUTLOO. Greenpeace and EREC, March 11, 200913

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HERITAGE FOUNDATION .................................................................. 13 WAXMAN-MARKEY GLOBAL WARMING TAX KILLS MORE JOBS AND KILLS THE ECONOMY. By

heritage.org. Fact Sheet #28, May 20, 2009 ..................................................................................................................... 13 CAPPING CARBON EMISSIONS IS BAD, NO MATTER HOW YOU SLICE THE REVENUE. By Nicolas Loris and

Ben Lieberman. WebMemo #2443. Heritage Foundation, May 14, 2009 ........................................................................ 13 INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL FOR LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES ............................. 14

RENEWABLES GLOBAL STATUS REPORT: ENERGY TRANSFORMATION CONTINUES DESPITE

ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN. Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century, May 21, 2009 .......................... 14

INTERNATIONAL CRISIS GROUP ........................................................... 14 HAITI: SAVING THE ENVIRONMENT, PREVENTING INSTABILITY AND CONFLICT. International Crisis

Group. April 28, 2009. ..................................................................................................................................................... 14 INTERNATIONAL ENERGY POLICY .......................................................... 14

ENSURING GREEN GROWTH IN A TIME OF ECONOMIC CRISIS: THE ROLE OF ENERGY TECHNOLOGY.

International Energy Policy. Web posted May 2009. ....................................................................................................... 14 JOINT OCEANS COMMISSION INITIATIVE (JOCI) .............................................. 15

CHANGING OCEANS, CHANGING WORLD. Ocean Priorities for the Obama Administration and Congress. JOCI,

April 2009 ........................................................................................................................................................................ 15 MC AFTEE .............................................................................. 15

THE CARBON FOOTPRINT OF EMAIL SPAM REPORT. McAftee. April 15, 2009. ............................................... 15 NATIONAL CENTER FOR ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH .............................................. 15

WORLD'S LARGEST TORNADO EXPERIMENT HEADS FOR GREAT PLAINS. NCAR, May 04, 2009 .............. 15 NATIONAL PARKS CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION ............................................... 16

NATIONAL PARKS MAGAZINE, Spring 2009. NPCA ................................................................................................... 16 NATIONAL PARK SERVICE CONSERVATION STUDY INSTITUTE .................................... 16

QUANTIFYING A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PLACE-BASED LEARNING AND ENVIRONMENTAL

QUALITY: FINAL REPORT. National Park Service Conservation Study Institute. April 2009. .................................. 16 NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION .......................................................... 16

RACING THE CLOCK: RAPID CLIMATE CHANGE FORCES SCIENTISTS TO EVALUATE EXTREME

CONSERVATION STRATEGIES. NSF Press Release 09-106. May 25, 2009 .............................................................. 16 HOW SOLID IS CONCRETE'S CARBON FOOTPRINT? NSF Press Release 09-102. May 18, 2009 ......................... 16 SOLVING THE PUZZLE: RESEARCH THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE AROUND THE WORLD. National

Science Foundation. May 1, 2009. ................................................................................................................................... 17 NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL ..................................................... 17

ONEARTH MAGAZINE, SUMMER 2009. NRDC .......................................................................................................... 17 NATURE’S VOICE, May/June 2009. NRDC ................................................................................................................... 17

NEW AMERICA FEDERATION ............................................................... 18 STATE CLIMATE POLICY TRACKER REVEALS PROGRESS BY 33 STATES. New America Federation. May 5,

2009. ................................................................................................................................................................................. 18 OCEANA ............................................................................... 18

HIDDEN COSTS: REDUCED IQ FROM CHLOR-ALKALI PLANT MERCURY EMISSIONS HARMS THE

ECONOMY. Oceana. Simon Mahan and Kimberly Warner. May 6, 2009...................................................................... 18 OXFAM AMERICA ........................................................................ 18

THE RIGHT TO SURVIVE: THE HUMANITARIAN CHALLENGE FOR THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY.

Oxfam America. Tanja Schuemer-Cross and Ben Heaven Taylor. April 2009. ............................................................... 18 PEW 19

ONE LAST CHANCE: THE ECONOMIC CASE FOR A NEW APPROACH TO FISHERIES MANAGEMENT IN

NEW ENGLAND. Pew Environment Group. Robert J. Johnston and Jon G. Sutinen. May 6, 2009. ............................. 19 FAITH IN GLOBAL WARMING: RELIGIOUS GROUPS‘ VIEWS ON EARTH WARMING EVIDENCE. Pew

Forum on Religion & Public Life. April 16, 2009. .......................................................................................................... 19 RAND 19

EVALUATING OPTIONS FOR U.S. GREENHOUSE-GAS MITIGATION USING MULTIPLE CRITERIA. Nicholas

Burger, Liisa Ecola et al. RAND, April 2009 ................................................................................................................... 19 RASMUSSEN REPORTS .................................................................... 19

ECONOMIC REALITY OF 5 MILLION GREEN JOBS. A Commentary By Tony Blankley. Rasmussen Reports, May

27, 2009 ............................................................................................................................................................................ 19 UNION OF CONCERNED SCIENTISTS ......................................................... 20

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CLIMATE 2030: A NATIONAL BLUEPRINT FOR A CLEAN ENERGY ECONOMY. Rachel Cleetus, Steven

Clemmer, David Friedman. UCS, May 2009 ................................................................................................................... 20 TESTIMONY OF KEVIN KNOBLOCH, UCS PRESIDENT ON CLIMATE 2030 BLUEPRINT. Union of Concerned

Scientists. April 22, 2009. ................................................................................................................................................ 20 UNITED NATIONS ....................................................................... 20

WATER IN A CHANGING WORLD. World Water Assessment Programme, United Nations. Web posted April2009.20 BILLION TREE CAMPAIGN GROWS PAST 3 BILLION MARK. United Nations Environment Programme. . ........ 21

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, BRITISH ANTARCTIC SURVEY, SCOTT POLAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE, AND THE

BUNDESAMT FÜR KARTOGRAPHIE UND GEODÄSIE .......................................... 21 COASTAL-CHANGE AND GLACIOLOGICAL MAP OF THE LARSEN ICE SHELF AREA, ANTARCTICA: 1940-

2005. U.S. Geological Survey, British Antarctic Survey, Scott Polar Research Institute, and the Bundesamt für

Kartographie und Geodäsie. Jane G. Ferrigno et al. Web posted April 3, 2009. .............................................................. 21 VIRGINIA CENTER FOR COAL AND ENERGY RESEARCH .......................................... 21

MEETING PROJECTED COAL PRODUCTION DEMANDS IN THE USA: UPSTREAM ISSUES, CHALLENGES,

AND STRATEGIES. Virginia Center for Coal and Energy Research, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State

University. May 12, 2009. ................................................................................................................................................ 21 WILDERNESS SOCIETY ................................................................... 21

THE ECONOMIC TOLL OF GLOBAL WARMING IS REAL – AND GROWING. The Wilderness Socity and U.S.

Climate Action Network. April 9, 2009. .......................................................................................................................... 21 WORLD BANK ........................................................................... 22

CLIMATE CHANGE GOVERNANCE. Meadowcroft, James. Research Working Paper. World Bank, 2009/05/01 .... 22 THE WORLD CONSERVATION UNION (IUCN) ................................................... 22

PROTECTING THE OCEANS MAKES ECONOMIC SENSE. Press Release. IUCN, 22 May 2009 ........................... 22 WORLD RESOURCES INSTITUTE ............................................................ 22

EMISSION REDUCTIONS UNDER THE AMERICAN CLEAN ENERGY AND SECURITY ACT. John Larsen,

Robert Heilmayr/ WRI, May 19, 2009 ............................................................................................................................. 22 JUICE FROM CONCENTRATE: REDUCING EMISSIONS WITH CONCENTRATING SOLAR THERMAL

POWER. Britt Childs Staley, Jenna Goodward et al. WRI, May, 2009 ........................................................................... 23 SHARPENING THE CUTTING EDGE: CORPORATE ACTION FOR A STRONG, LOW-CARBON ECONOMY.

Samantha Putt del Pino, Eliot Metzger et al. WRI, April, 2009 ....................................................................................... 23 WORLD WILDLIFE FEDERATION ............................................................ 23

‗MOUNTAINS OF THE MOON‘ GET NOD FOR INTERNATIONAL WETLANDS PROTECTIONS. World Wildlife

Fund. May 13, 2009. ....................................................................................................................................................... 23 VAST RESERVE TO PROTECT REMOTE PRINCE EDWARD ISLANDS. World Wildlife Fund. May 7, 2009. ..... 23 ARABIAN TAHR GETS ROYAL PROTECTION. World Wildlife Fund. April 28, 2009. ........................................... 24 YANGTZE ESTUARY GETS A WELCOME FOCUS FROM RIVER FORUM. World Wildlife Fund. 2009. ........... 24 ECO-ISLAM: MALAYSIA‘S IMAMS TO PREACH AGAINST POACHING. World Wildlife Fund. 2009. .............. 24

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GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS

INTERNATIONAL ENERGY OUTLOOK 2009. Report DOE/EIA-

0484(2009). Department of Energy, May 27, 2009

The International Energy Outlook 2009 (IEO2009) presents an

assessment by the Energy Information Administration (EIA) of the

outlook for international energy markets through 2030. U.S. projections

appearing in IEO2009 are consistent with those published in EIA‘s

Annual Energy Outlook 2009 (AEO2009), (March 2009). http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/ieo/

EPA PROPOSES NEW REGULATIONS FOR THE NATIONAL

RENEWABLE FUEL STANDARD PROGRAM FOR 2010 AND

BEYOND.U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. May 5, 2009.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing its strategy for

increasing the supply of renewable fuels, poised to reach 36 billion

gallons by 2022, as mandated by the Energy Independence and Security

Act of 2007. Increasing renewable fuels will reduce dependence of

foreign oil by more than 297 million barrels a year and reduce

greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 160 million tons a year when

fully phased in by 2022. EISA will establish four categories of renewable fuels.

http://www.epa.gov/otaq/renewablefuels/420f09023.pdf [PDF format, 9 pages].

YELLOW LIGHT ON GREEN JOBS. Subcommittee on Green Jobs

and the New Economy, U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works

Committee. April 2009.

With green jobs the focus of the President‘s Earth Day event and

numerous recent media stories, Senate Green Jobs and the New

Economy subcommittee ranking member U.S. Senator Kit Bond

releases a report. ―This report signals a yellow light urging caution with

green jobs,‖ said Bond. ―We must avoid green jobs proposals that result

in killing millions of existing jobs to pay for new green jobs, require

expensive taxpayer subsidies, or pay low wages.‖ http://epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Files.View&FileStore_id=c4ca8586-9be7-4337-8fce-f1dda1897279

A TIMELINE OF ENVIRONMENTAL TREATIES. America.gov. April 2009.

The timeline on Environmental Treaties begins with 1962 Convention for the Prevention of

Pollution of the Sea by Oil to 1997 Kyoto Protocol. http://www.america.gov/multimedia/photogallery.html#/30145/env_time/ [HTML format, various paging].

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HOW CBO ESTIMATES THE COSTS OF REDUCING

GREENHOUSE-GAS EMISSIONS. Congressional Budget Office.

April 24, 2009.

As part of its mandate to provide the Congress with the objective, timely,

and nonpartisan analysis needed to make informed economic and

budgetary decisions, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) prepares

cost estimates for legislation under consideration by the Congress. In

recent years, a number of legislative proposals have involved efforts to

restrict emissions of greenhouse gases in the United States. The

background paper briefly describes the methodology that CBO uses to

estimate those incremental costs, the data sources and models used to develop that

methodology, and the rationale for using it. http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/99xx/doc9923/04-24-Greenhouse.pdf [PDF format, 32 pages].

THE NOAA ANNUAL GREENHOUSE GAS INDEX (AGGI). National Oceanic &

Atmospheric Administration. David J. Hofmann. April 22, 2009.

Two of the most important climate change gases increased last year, according to a

preliminary analysis, which tracks data from 60 sites around the world. Researchers measured

an additional 16.2 billion tons of carbon dioxide (CO2), a byproduct of fossil fuel burning,

and 12.2 million tons of methane in the atmosphere at the end of December 2008. This

increase is despite the global economic downturn, with its decrease in a wide range of

activities that depend on fossil fuel use.

http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/aggi/ [HTML format, various paging].

2009 U.S. GREENHOUSE GAS INVENTORY REPORT. U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency. April 15, 2009.

The report finds that overall emissions during 2007 increased by 1.4 percent from the

previous year. The report is the latest annual report that the U.S. has submitted to the

Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which sets an

overall framework for intergovernmental efforts to tackle the challenge posed by climate

change. The increase in emissions in 2007 was due primarily to an increase in carbon dioxide

emissions associated with fuel and electricity consumption. http://epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/downloads09/InventoryUSGhG1990-2007.pdf

Full Report. [PDF format, 441 pages]. http://epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/usinventoryreport.html [HTML format with individual PDF files].

EARTH DAY – TOBACCO CONTROL GUIDE. Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention. April 2009.

The guide is provided to include cigarette litter and pollution control in Earth Day activities

as part of a comprehensive tobacco prevention and control program to increase awareness of

the detrimental effects of tobacco use to people and the environment and to consequently

reduce tobacco use. http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/media_communications/calendar/2009/april_earthday.htm#outline [HTML format, various paging].

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CONGRESSIONAL DOCUMENTS

AMERICAN CLEAN ENERGY AND SECURITY ACT OF 2009.

Discussion Draft Summary. Published May 22, 2009

The Waxman-Markey discussion draft, "The American Clean Energy

and Security Act of 2009," is comprehensive energy legislation. The

legislation will create millions of new clean energy jobs, save consumers

hundreds of billions of dollars in energy costs, enhance America's

energy independence, and cut global warming pollution.

The legislation has four titles: (1) a "clean energy" title that promotes

renewable sources of energy and carbon capture and sequestration

technologies, low-carbon transportation fuels, clean electric vehicles, and the smart grid and

electricity transmission; (2) an "energy efficiency" title that increases energy efficiency

across all sectors of the economy, including buildings, appliances, transportation, and

industry; (3) a "global warming" title that places limits on the emissions of heat-trapping

pollutants; and (4) a "transitioning" title that protects U.S. consumers and industry and

promotes green jobs during the transition to a clean energy economy.

One key issue that the discussion draft does not address is how to allocate the tradable

emission allowances that restrict the amount of global warming pollution emitted by electric

utilities, oil companies, and other sources. This issue will be addressed through discussions

among Committee members. http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_111/20090331/acesa_discussiondraft.pdf

THE WHITE HOUSE

PRESIDENT OBAMA SEEKS NEW FUEL EFFICIENCY STANDARDS. By Michelle

Austein Brooks, U.S. Department of State Staff Writer. 19 May 2009

Washington — New federal rules proposed May 19 would increase national fuel efficiency

standards for vehicles sold in the United States. ―We have set in motion a national policy

aimed at both increasing gas mileage and decreasing greenhouse gas pollution for all new

trucks and cars sold in the United States of America,‖ President Obama said at the White

House. ―The goal is to set one national standard that will rapidly increase fuel efficiency,

without compromising safety, by an average of 5 percent each year between 2012 and 2016,‖

Obama said. http://www.america.gov/st/usg-english/2009/May/20090519171519HMnietsuA0.0680353.html?CP.rss=true REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT ON NATIONAL FUEL EFFICIENCY STANDARDS: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Remarks-by-the-President-on-national-fuel-efficiency-standards/

THINK TANKS AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION

WHAT’S THE STATE OF YOUR AIR? American Lung Association. April 29, 2009.

Air pollution continues to threaten the lives and health of millions of people in the United

States despite great progress since the modern Clean Air Act was first passed in 1970. Even

as the nation explores the complex challenges of global warming and energy, air pollution

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remains widespread and dangerous. The interactive map shows the quality of air for each of

the State.

http://www.stateoftheair.org [HTML format with an interactive map].

ARCTIC COUNCIL

ARCTIC OFFSHORE OIL AND GAS GUIDELINES 2009. Arctic

Council, April 29, 2009

The Guidelines are intended to define a set of recommended practices and

outline strategic actions for consideration by those responsible for

regulation of offshore oil and gas activities (including transportation and

related onshore activities) in the Arctic. It is hoped that regulators will

identify the key aspects related to protection of human health and safety

and protection of the environment for the management of offshore

activities, while at the same time remaining sufficiently flexible in the

application of these management regimes to permit alternative regulatory approaches. It

should be recognized that the eight Arctic nations have different systems with different

emphases on the division of responsibility between the operator and the regulator. The goal is

to assist regulators in developing standards, which are applied and enforced consistently for

all offshore Arctic oil and gas operators. Sensible regulation will vary to some degree based

upon local circumstances. Thus, it is expected that, based on the outcome of environmental

impact assessment procedures, regulators will establish policies such that offshore oil and gas

activities are conducted so as to provide for human health and safety and protection of the

environment. http://arctic-council.org/filearchive/Arctic%20Offhsore%20Oil%20and%20Gas%20Guidelines%202009.pdf

ARCTIC MARINE SHIPPING ASSESSMENT 2009 REPORT.

Arctic Council

This survey represents an historic capture of information from the

Arctic states that can be used as a long-term database against which to

measure future Arctic marine traffic levels. In addition, more than 185

experts participated directly in the work of the AMSA. Thirteen major

AMSA workshops were held from July 2006 through October 2008 on

a broad range of relevant topics, including scenarios of future Arctic

navigation, indigenous marine use, Arctic marine incidents,

environmental impacts, marine infrastructure, Arctic marine technology and the future of the

Northern Sea Route and adjacent seas. The AMSA workshops provided extensive

information for developing the report sections. http://arctic-council.org/filearchive/amsa2009report.pdf

COOPERATIVE ALLIANCE FOR REFUGE ENHANCEMENT (CARE)

RESTORING AMERICA’S WILDLIFE REFUGES 2009. The Cooperative Alliance for

Refuge Enhancement (CARE), May 22, 2009

The new report finds the nation‘s wildlife refuges remain vastly under-funded and require

$808 million in annual appropriations to fulfill their obligations to wildlife and the American

people as mandated in the Refuge Improvement Act (the System is currently receiving $462.8

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million per year – an average of just $3.08 per acre). The consequences

of funding shortages can be seen at refuges across the country: unstaffed

refuges and closings, unsafe roads and trails, decreased safety, millions

of acres of invasive species, unprotected at-risk species, and a 10%

reduction in workforce since 2004…The report calls upon Congress to

increase the Refuge System‘s annual operations and maintenance budget

to $514 million for fiscal year 2010 (FY10), putting the System on the

path for full funding - $808 million annually – by FY2013. Full funding

for the Refuge System will result in vibrant wildlife habitats,

outstanding opportunities for the public to learn about and enjoy wildlife

and boost economic activity in local communities that thrive on wildlife-dependent

recreation. http://www.fundrefuges.org/care/CareHome.html

COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS

THE NATIONAL INTEREST AND THE LAW OF THE SEA.Scott G.

Borgerson. Council Special Report No. 46. Council on Foreign Relations

Press, May 2009

The oceans have long been a critical arena for international relations.

Before there was air travel and instantaneous communication, people,

goods, and ideas traveled the world by ship. For centuries a strong

maritime presence—both military and commercial—has been essential for

states with great power aspirations. Today, even with advances in

technology, seaborne commerce remains the linchpin of the global

economy. As the International Maritime Organization reports, ―more than 90 percent of

global trade is carried by sea.‖ And beyond trade, a host of other issues, ranging from climate

change and energy to defense and piracy, ensure that the oceans will hold considerable

strategic interest well into the future. http://www.cfr.org/content/publications/attachments/LawoftheSea_CSR46.pdf

ECONOMIC CHALLENGES FOR CLIMATE CHANGE POLICY. Toni Johnson, Staff

Writer. CFR Backgrounder, Updated: May 19, 2009

Amid a slumping U.S. economy, and a major restructuring of the U.S. auto industry, any

legislation that imposes higher energy costs will be particularly difficult to negotiate.

However, many lawmakers say climate-change policy also holds economic opportunities,

including creating jobs and employing new green technologies. Experts also say

implementing climate policy in the United States will bolster international climate efforts set

to culminate in Copenhagen in December 2009. http://www.cfr.org/publication/16009/debate_revs_up_on_emissions_controls.html?breadcrumb=%2F

ADDRESSING THE CRISIS IN AMERICA'S OCEANS. Scott G. Borgerson, Visiting

Fellow for Ocean Governance. CFR, April 7, 2009

By every measure, serious policy reform is long overdue to address the crisis in the marine

environment of the United States. Ninety percent of large predatory fish are now gone. There

is a "dead zone" in the Gulf of Mexico, created by an estimated 1.5 million metric tons of

nitrogen fertilizer carried by the Mississippi River from America's hinterland, that has grown

to an area roughly the size of Massachusetts. Nearly 90 percent of U.S. wetlands have

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vanished due to development, and twenty-six thousand of the country's beaches have been

temporarily closed or put under advisories because of pollution. These are just a few of the

indicators that U.S. oceans are in serious trouble. Reversing this decline in ocean health

requires a comprehensive national ocean policy, coordination among agencies, and

collaboration with states and stakeholders. http://www.cfr.org/publication/19056/addressing_the_crisis_in_americas_oceans.html

PREPARED REMARKS: THE GLOBAL IMPLICATIONS OF A WARMING

ARCTIC. Council on Foreign Relations. Scott G. Borgerson. May 5, 2009.

The author participates in the roundtable discussion on ―The Global Implications of a

Warming Arctic‖ with members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He testifies

about the climate change driving the Arctic‘s transformation; then paints a future of the

current state of international relations in the Arctic. He also provides specific policy

recommendations the U.S. should take to advance its interests in this strategic region. http://www.cfr.org/content/publications/attachments/Borgerson_SFRC_RT.pdf

THE CANADIAN OIL SANDS: Energy Security vs. Climate Change.

Michael A. Levi, David M. Rubenstein. Council Special Report No. 47.

CFR May 2009

The Canadian oil sands present an important challenge to policymakers:

they promise energy security benefits but present climate change problems.

Michael A. Levi assesses the energy security and climate change effects of

the oil sands and makes recommendations for U.S. policymakers within the

context of broader bilateral relations with Canada. http://www.cfr.org/content/publications/attachments/Oil_Sands_CSR47.pdf

ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND

REINVENTING TRANSIT: AMERICAN COMMUNITIES

FINDING SMARTER, CLEANER, FASTER TRANSPORTATION

SOLUTIONS. Environmental Defense Fund. April 22, 2009.

A new generation of innovative public transit is sweeping through

communities across America. Rural areas, suburbs and cities are leading

the way to a cutting-edge transportation system. Investing in smart

transit pays off, says the report.

http://www.edf.org/documents/9522_Reinventing_Transit_FINAL.pdf

EUROPEAN ENVIRONMENT AGENCY

PROGRESS TOWARDS THE EUROPEAN 2010 BIODIVERSITY

TARGET. European Environment Agency, 22 May 2009

As the first indicator-based assessment of progress towards the European

target of halting biodiversity loss by 2010, this report serves two

purposes. First, it takes stock of the state of biodiversity and its loss in

Europe based on the most recent data available. Second, it functions as a

bridge to a comprehensive assessment of the 2010 target to be done in

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2010. As such, the indicators in this report do not only show what is currently known. They

also show where information is missing and what more needs to be measured and examined

to enable a comprehensive assessment in 2010. http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/progress-towards-the-european-2010-biodiversity-target

LOOKING BACK ON LOOKING FORWARD: A REVIEW OF

EVALUATIVE SCENARIO LITERATURE. European Environment

Agency, 29 Apr 2009

Faced with risk and uncertainty, environmental policy-makers are

increasingly using scenario planning to guide decision-making. The

vibrancy of the field is evident in the numerous case studies conducted

using diverse methodologies. Yet even well-crafted scenarios can fail to

have their intended policy impact if they present irrelevant information,

lack support from relevant actors, are poorly embedded into relevant

organisations or ignore key institutional context conditions. Unfortunately, the shortage of

research on scenario planning and its influence means that there is limited guidance on how

to optimise scenarios, in terms of both outputs and uptake by policy-makers. This technical

report addresses this lack of information, presenting a review of relevant academic and

non‑academic literature on the issue. http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/looking-back-on-looking-forward-a-review-of-evaluative-scenario-literature

GLOBAL CORAL REEF MONITORING NETWORK

STATUS OF CORAL REEFS OF THE WORLD: 2008. Wilkinson, C.

(ed.) Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network, 2008

The report summarizes what has happened to the world‘s coral reefs

since 2004 and uses expert opinion of coral reef scientists and managers

from 96 countries and states to make predictions on what could happen to

coral reefs in the future. This combined expertise also seeks to provide

advice to the world‘s decision makers on what should be done to allow

us to bequeath healthy coral reefs to future generations. The release of

this report coincides with the end of the International Year of the Reef

(IYOR 2008), which has focused considerable global attention on coral reefs. http://www.reefbase.org/download/gcrmn_download.aspx?type=10&docid=13311

GREENPEACE

AMERICA'S SHARE OF THE CLIMATE CRISIS: A STATE-BY-

STATE CARBON FOOTPRINT. Greenpeace, May 27, 2009

Global warming is an urgent crisis that demands immediate action to

prevent climate catastrophe. The consequences of inaction are far too

great, and the time remaining to reduce those consequences is running

out.

http://www.greenpeace.org/raw/content/usa/press-center/reports4/america-s-share-of-the-climate.pdf

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ENERGY [R]EVOLUTION: A SUSTAINABLE USA ENERGY

OUTLOO. Greenpeace and EREC, March 11, 2009

The report details how the United States can cut greenhouse gas emissions

to the levels we must reach in order to prevent the worst effects of global

warming and simultaneously build a sustainable economy. Commissioned

from the German Aerospace Center by Greenpeace and the European

Renewable Energy Council, the study shows how the U.S. can, with off-

the-shelf technology, cut CO2 emissions from current levels by 23 percent

by 2020 and 85 percent by 2050. http://www.greenpeace.org/raw/content/usa/press-center/reports4/energy-r-evolution-a-sustain.pdf

HERITAGE FOUNDATION

WAXMAN-MARKEY GLOBAL WARMING TAX KILLS MORE JOBS AND KILLS

THE ECONOMY. By heritage.org. Fact Sheet #28, May 20, 2009

The cap-and-trade

tax proposed by

Reps. Henry

Waxman (D-CA)

and Edward

Markey (D-MA) is

disguised as

environmental

legislation when it

would have little

impact on global

temperatures. In

fact, it is a massive

energy tax that

promises soaring

household energy

bills, major job

losses, income cuts, and a sharp left turn toward big government. http://www.heritage.org/Press/FactSheet/fs0028.cfm

CAPPING CARBON EMISSIONS IS BAD, NO MATTER HOW

YOU SLICE THE REVENUE. By Nicolas Loris and Ben Lieberman.

WebMemo #2443. Heritage Foundation, May 14, 2009

A favorite approach to reducing carbon dioxide emissions among

Washington bureaucrats is the "market-oriented" cap-and-trade program,

which under a global warming bill proposed by Representatives Henry

Waxman (D-CA) and Ed Markey (D-MA), would establish. Building

broad support for this approach, however, has been difficult, leading

some in Congress to develop alternatives to cap and trade. Some of these

new schemes are as simple as placing a tax on carbon emissions, while others, such as "cap

and dividend" or "cap and invest" are variations of the original.

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The problem with these efforts is that they do not resolve the central problem that will

continue to plague attempts to cap CO2: All carbon capping plans are costly energy taxes in

disguise that will raise energy prices and unemployment with little environmental benefit. http://www.heritage.org/Research/EnergyandEnvironment/upload/wm_2443.pdf

INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL FOR LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES

RENEWABLES GLOBAL STATUS REPORT: ENERGY TRANSFORMATION

CONTINUES DESPITE ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN. Renewable Energy Policy

Network for the 21st Century, May 21, 2009

The report shows that renewables had a strong performance in 2008, despite the economic

downturn. Nearly all renewable technologies experienced significant percentage gains in

installed capacity. The report also highlights significant policy and leadership changes that

facilitated these gains in capacity.

The report shows where the leaders in renewable energy deployment stand nationally and at

the local level. The report gives a broad indication of the state of renewable energy markets,

the amount and direction of investment, the larger trends in industry, and which policy types

are in effect. http://www.ren21.net/globalstatusreport/g2009.asp

INTERNATIONAL CRISIS GROUP

HAITI: SAVING THE ENVIRONMENT, PREVENTING INSTABILITY AND

CONFLICT. International Crisis Group. April 28, 2009.

Reversing a trend of environmental destruction is essential to Haiti‘s development, social and

economic stability and, ultimately, security. Instability and violent conflict are not

attributable solely to environmental degradation. But they are made more likely by the latter‘s

interaction with such factors as weak institutions and governance, political fragility,

pervasive and extreme poverty, vulnerability to natural disasters, rapid population growth,

urban overcrowding and social and economic inequality, according to the report. http://www.crisisgroup.org/library/documents/latin_america/aiti___saving_the_environment__preventing_instability_and_conflict.pdf

INTERNATIONAL ENERGY POLICY

ENSURING GREEN GROWTH IN A TIME OF ECONOMIC

CRISIS: THE ROLE OF ENERGY TECHNOLOGY. International

Energy Policy. Web posted May 2009.

Despite the severity of the current financial and economic crisis, it cannot

be allowed to distract us from addressing critical and strategic climate

change and energy challenges, says the report. The energy sector

produces 60% of global greenhouse gas emissions and so it must also be a

key part of any strategy to reduce them. The paper describes the most

promising low-carbon technologies, their current status and the policy

framework that will be necessary to achieve their widespread deployment. http://www.iea.org/Textbase/Papers/2009/ensuring_green_growth.pdf

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JOINT OCEANS COMMISSION INITIATIVE (JOCI)

CHANGING OCEANS, CHANGING WORLD. Ocean Priorities for

the Obama Administration and Congress. JOCI, April 2009

The report outlines a series of recommendations that include

strengthening science- and ecosystem-based approaches to ocean

management and developing a sorely needed national ocean policy. It

details how a comprehensive ocean agenda should be integrated with

economic recovery efforts and programs to help the nation transition to

a green economy.

Major obstacles to reform include a lack of a clear policy direction from

the federal government, confusing and overlapping jurisdictions, and fragmented laws.

Currently, at the national level alone, U.S. waters are managed under more than 140 federal

laws implemented by eighteen different federal agencies. http://www.jointoceancommission.org/resource-center/1-Reports/2009-04-07_JOCI_Changing_Oceans,_Changing_World.pdf

MC AFTEE

THE CARBON FOOTPRINT OF EMAIL SPAM REPORT.

McAftee. April 15, 2009.

Until now, spam‘s impact has been measured in time, money, and

aggravation. It turns out there is a massive environmental impact as

well. Experts find that the energy consumed in transmitting and deleting

spam is equivalent to the electricity used in 2.4 million American

homes, with greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions equivalent to 3.1 million

passenger cars. http://img.en25.com/Web/McAfee/CarbonFootprint_12pg_web_REV_NA.pdf

NATIONAL CENTER FOR ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH

WORLD'S LARGEST TORNADO EXPERIMENT HEADS FOR GREAT PLAINS.

NCAR, May 04, 2009

BOULDER—The largest and most ambitious tornado study in

history will begin next week, as dozens of scientists deploy radars

and other ground-based instrument s across the Great Plains to

gain a better understanding of these often-deadly weather events.

NCAR scientists and technicians will launch weather balloons at VORTEX2 with their

Mobile GPS Advanced Upper-Air Sounding System. Shown here are (left to right)

William Brown, Jennifer Standridge, and Tim Lim testing a balloon launch (Photo by

Carlye Calvin.) [ENLARGE] News media terms of use* The collaborative international project, involving scientists from

the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) and a

number of other organizations, will examine in detail how

tornadoes form and the patterns of damage they cause. The

findings are expected to improve tornado warnings and short-term

severe weather forecasts. http://www.ucar.edu/news/releases/2009/vortex2.jsp

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NATIONAL PARKS CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION

NATIONAL PARKS MAGAZINE, Spring 2009. NPCA

Features:

Going to the Sun: From baby-blue lakes to glacier-carved trails,

Glacier National Park offers an unparalleled wilderness experience.

A Pebble in the Water: Lake Clark National Park & Preserve is

home to Native people, long-time Alaskans, and thriving salmon runs. But

plans for one of the world‘s biggest gold and copper mines could change all

that.

From the Ashes: Should Mount St. Helens become a national park? http://www.npca.org/magazine/2009/spring/

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE CONSERVATION STUDY INSTITUTE

QUANTIFYING A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PLACE-BASED

LEARNING AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY: FINAL

REPORT. National Park Service Conservation Study Institute. April

2009.

The study finds environmental education programs lead to cleaner air.

The study shows that environmental education programs are an effective

tool in helping to improve air quality in North America. ―This study

shows a valuable connection between better environmental education and

cleaner air in our communities,‖ said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson.

―With the right information, people can make a real difference in the places where they live,

work, play and learn.‖ http://www.peecworks.org/PEEC/PEEC_Research/03CB4BC4-007EA7AB.2/PBL-EQ%20Final%20Research%20Report%202008.pdf

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

RACING THE CLOCK: RAPID CLIMATE CHANGE FORCES SCIENTISTS TO

EVALUATE EXTREME CONSERVATION STRATEGIES. NSF Press Release 09-106.

May 25, 2009

Scientists are, for the first time, objectively evaluating ways to help species adapt to rapid

climate change and other environmental threats via strategies that were considered too radical

for serious consideration as recently as five or 10 years ago. Among these radical strategies

currently being considered is so-called "managed relocation." Managed relocation, which is

also known as "assisted migration," involves manually moving species into more

accommodating habitats where they are not currently found. http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=114849&org=OLPA&from=news

HOW SOLID IS CONCRETE'S CARBON FOOTPRINT? NSF Press Release 09-102.

May 18, 2009

Concrete may absorb more carbon dioxide than earlier estimates suggested

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Concrete absorbs carbon dioxide over time, so its carbon

footprint may be smaller than once thought.

Many scientists currently think at least 5

percent of humanity's carbon footprint

comes from the concrete industry, both

from energy use and the carbon dioxide

(CO2) byproduct from the production of

cement, one of concrete's principal

components.

Yet several studies have shown that small

quantities of CO2 later reabsorb into concrete, even decades after it is emplaced, when

elements of the material combine with CO2 to form calcite. http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=109892&org=OLPA&from=news

SOLVING THE PUZZLE: RESEARCH THE IMPACTS OF

CLIMATE CHANGE AROUND THE WORLD. National Science

Foundation. May 1, 2009.

The report discusses Earth‘s systems piecewise, beginning with the

physical systems of Earth‘s atmosphere, sea, land, and ice, then focusing

on life on Earth, and ending with, perhaps, the most challenging and

dynamic piece of all, people. The report shows that it‘s important to

realize that all of the pieces of the climate puzzle are interconnected, and

all of the pieces are necessary to gain a full understanding of climate

variability and change. http://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/climate/pdf/NSF_Climate_Change_Report.pdf

NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL

ONEARTH MAGAZINE, SUMMER 2009. NRDC

FEATURE STORIES:

India, Enlightened, by George Black

Designing Woman, by Susan Dominus

Parkinson's: The Pesticide Link,by Robin Marantz Henig http://www.onearth.org/09sum

NATURE’S VOICE, May/June 2009. NRDC

FEATURING:

Wolves Kicked off Endangered Species List

Showdown in Wyoming's Red Desert

Grizzlies Laid Low by Declining Whitebark Pines

Go Tear It off the Mountain: Coal and Appalachia

Switchboard: Phasing out Phthalates & Clearing the Air

Obama Revives Endangered Species Act http://www.nrdc.org/naturesvoice/default.asp

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NEW AMERICA FEDERATION

STATE CLIMATE POLICY TRACKER REVEALS PROGRESS BY 33 STATES. New

America Federation. May 5, 2009.

The study provides an online tool that allows state-by-state tracking of hundreds of carbon

and energy saving measures now being implemented across the country. The State Climate

Policy Tracker takes the form of a single spreadsheet with one tab devoted to each state that

has completed or is in the process of completing a climate action plan. A seven column

matrix captures the climate actions taking place across six economic sectors, and reports on

the progress of each measure, its cost or cost-saving potential, and the estimated reduction in

carbon emissions expected on an annual basis. http://www.newamerica.net/programs/climate#

OCEANA

HIDDEN COSTS: REDUCED IQ FROM CHLOR-ALKALI PLANT MERCURY

EMISSIONS HARMS THE ECONOMY. Oceana. Simon Mahan and Kimberly Warner.

May 6, 2009.

Lowered IQ due to mercury pollution from outdated mercury-cell chlorine factories has cost

the American economy millions of dollars in lost wages annually, according to the report.

These factories, called chlor-alkali plants, produce chlorine and caustic soda with technology

that emits mercury pollution into our air, water and food. This industry also contributes to

fish contamination, which is the primary source of mercury exposure for humans. Frequent

consumption of high mercury fish has been linked to lower IQ in young children and heart

disease in adults. http://oceana.org/fileadmin/oceana/uploads/mercury/Hidden_Costs/Hidden_Costs.pdf

OXFAM AMERICA

THE RIGHT TO SURVIVE: THE HUMANITARIAN CHALLENGE

FOR THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY. Oxfam America. Tanja

Schuemer-Cross and Ben Heaven Taylor. April 2009.

The number of people affected by climate-related humanitarian disasters

is projected to rise by 54 percent by 2015, threatening to overwhelm

emergency response and humanitarian aid systems, according to the

report. The rise in numbers, from the current 250 million per year to 375

million by 2015, is due to the increasing threat of climate change-induced

severe weather events and inability of millions of people worldwide to

prepare to deal with such catastrophes. http://www.oxfamamerica.org/newsandpublications/publications/research_reports/the-right-to-survive/Right-to-Survive.pdf

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PEW

ONE LAST CHANCE: THE ECONOMIC CASE FOR A NEW

APPROACH TO FISHERIES MANAGEMENT IN NEW

ENGLAND. Pew Environment Group. Robert J. Johnston and Jon

G. Sutinen. May 6, 2009.

The New England groundfish fishery would be more economically and

environmentally sound if the system used to manage the activities of

commercial fishermen was changed from regulations based on ―days-at-

sea‖ to annual catch limits, according to the report. In addition, the new

system would give declining populations of the region‘s iconic species

like cod and flounder a chance to rebuild, providing a sustainable future for the industry. http://www.pewtrusts.org/uploadedFiles/wwwpewtrustsorg/Reports/Protecting_ocean_life/Johnston_Sutinen_2009.pdf

FAITH IN GLOBAL WARMING: RELIGIOUS GROUPS’ VIEWS ON EARTH

WARMING EVIDENCE. Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. April 16, 2009.

The survey examines views on global warming among major religious traditions in the U.S.

The unaffiliated, 58%, are the most likely among the religious groups studied to say there is

solid evidence the earth is warming because of human activity. White evangelical Protestants

are the most likely to say there is no solid evidence the earth is warming, 31%, and the least

likely to believe that humans have contributed to heating up the planet (34%). http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1194/global-warming-belief-by-religion

RAND

EVALUATING OPTIONS FOR U.S. GREENHOUSE-GAS MITIGATION USING

MULTIPLE CRITERIA. Nicholas Burger, Liisa Ecola et al. RAND, April 2009

Choosing a set of policy responses to mitigate greenhouse gases (GHGs) responsible for

climate change is one of the great challenges that the United States faces in the coming years.

Many policy options emphasize overall cost-effectiveness in reducing GHG emissions. In the

search for options that are effective and politically feasible, however, other concerns have

comparable importance. Mitigating GHGs in practice will require balancing cost-

effectiveness and other objectives that reflect the institutional and political realities of passing

major federal legislation with widespread impacts on U.S. producers and consumers. This

paper develops a framework for evaluating GHG-mitigation policy in the United States that

balances several criteria. It draws on conceptual analysis and examples from U.S. energy

policy to motivate an evaluative framework that incorporates a range of views of what

constitutes ―good‖ policy. It should be of interest to stakeholders in the GHG policymaking

process and especially to those responsible for crafting U.S. climate policy. http://www.rand.org/pubs/occasional_papers/2009/RAND_OP252.pdf

RASMUSSEN REPORTS

ECONOMIC REALITY OF 5 MILLION GREEN JOBS. A Commentary By Tony

Blankley. Rasmussen Reports, May 27, 2009

In March, one of Spain's leading universities, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, published an

authoritative study "of the effects on employment of public aid to renewable energy sources."

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The report pointed out: "This study is important for several reasons. First is that the Spanish

experience is considered a leading example to be followed by many policy advocates and

politicians. This study marks the very first time a critical analysis of the actual performance

and impact has been made. Most important, it demonstrates that the Spanish/EU-style 'green

jobs' agenda now being promoted in the U.S. in fact destroys jobs, detailing this in terms of

jobs destroyed per job created." http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/political_commentary/commentary_by_tony_blankley/economic_reality_of_5_million_green_jobs

UNION OF CONCERNED SCIENTISTS

CLIMATE 2030: A NATIONAL BLUEPRINT FOR A CLEAN

ENERGY ECONOMY. Rachel Cleetus, Steven Clemmer, David

Friedman. UCS, May 2009

Reducing oil dependence. Strengthening energy security. Creating jobs.

Tackling global warming. Addressing air pollution. Improving our

health. The United States has many reasons to make the transition to a

clean energy economy. The new study outlines how the United States

can jumpstart a transition to a clean energy future. The study found that

implementing a smart set of climate, energy, and transportation policies

can save consumers and businesses money while deeply reducing our nation's heat-trapping

emissions. http://www.ucsusa.org/assets/documents/global_warming/climate-2030-report.pdf

TESTIMONY OF KEVIN KNOBLOCH, UCS PRESIDENT ON

CLIMATE 2030 BLUEPRINT. Union of Concerned Scientists. April

22, 2009.

The United States can dramatically cut global warming emissions and

reduce consumer and business energy bills at the same time, according to

Union of Concerned Scientists‘ study. The analysis finds that

implementing a suite of climate, energy and transportation policies would

allow the United States to meet an emissions-reduction cap of 56 percent

below 2005 levels by 2030 and save consumers and businesses $465

billion in that year. http://www.ucsusa.org/assets/documents/global_warming/UCS-KKnobloch-Blueprint-Testimony.pdf

UNITED NATIONS

WATER IN A CHANGING WORLD. World Water Assessment Programme, United

Nations. Web posted April 2009.

The publication is the result of the collaboration between 26 UN agencies and entities. It

provides a comprehensive analysis of the state of the world‘s freshwater resources and stress

the need of urgent actions in order to avoid a global water crisis. The report also emphasizes

the decisions made outside the water sector which are affecting water management. http://webworld.unesco.org/water/wwap/wwdr/wwdr3/tableofcontents.shtml [HTML format with links to PDF files].

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BILLION TREE CAMPAIGN GROWS PAST 3 BILLION MARK. United Nations

Environment Programme. March 30, 2009.

The Billion Tree campaign to fight climate change through reforestation has now blossomed

into woodland of over 3 billion trees, according to the United Nations. A new target of 7

billion trees has been set to be planted in time for the UN Climate Change Conference to be

held in December 2009. http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=30333&Cr=climate&Cr1=change

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, BRITISH ANTARCTIC SURVEY, SCOTT POLAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE, AND THE BUNDESAMT FÜR KARTOGRAPHIE UND GEODÄSIE

COASTAL-CHANGE AND GLACIOLOGICAL MAP OF THE LARSEN ICE SHELF

AREA, ANTARCTICA: 1940-2005. U.S. Geological Survey, British Antarctic Survey,

Scott Polar Research Institute, and the Bundesamt für Kartographie und Geodäsie. Jane

G. Ferrigno et al. Web posted April 3, 2009.

Antarctica‘s glaciers are melting more rapidly than previously known because of climate

change, according to a new report prepared in close collaboration with the British Antarctic

Survey. It documents for the first time that one ice shelf has completely disappeared and

another has lost a chunk three times the size of Rhode Island. http://pubs.usgs.gov/imap/2600/B/

VIRGINIA CENTER FOR COAL AND ENERGY RESEARCH

MEETING PROJECTED COAL PRODUCTION DEMANDS IN

THE USA: UPSTREAM ISSUES, CHALLENGES, AND

STRATEGIES. Virginia Center for Coal and Energy Research,

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. May 12, 2009.

The study seeks to investigate different aspects of the coal supply chain

and to highlight critical ―upstream‖ fuel cycle issues that need to be

addressed to ensure that the domestic coal industry can continue

meeting the nation‘s energy demands while delivering the social

benefits and environmental performance demanded by the public. It

reviews all coal-related upstream issues, identifying problems and

strengths, and recommending areas of improvement. http://www.energycommission.org/ht/a/GetDocumentAction/i/10370 [PDF format, 20 pages].

WILDERNESS SOCIETY

THE ECONOMIC TOLL OF GLOBAL WARMING IS REAL – AND

GROWING. The Wilderness Socity and U.S. Climate Action Network. April

9, 2009.

The report describes how inaction on global warming is costing us more than if

we were to take action.

http://usclimatenetwork.org/resource-database/Costs%20of%20Fighting%20Global%20Warming.pdf/view

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WORLD BANK

CLIMATE CHANGE GOVERNANCE. Meadowcroft, James.

Research Working Paper. World Bank, 2009/05/01

Climate change governance poses difficult challenges for contemporary

political/administrative systems. These systems evolved to handle other

sorts of problems and must now be adapted to handle emerging issues of

climate change mitigation and adaptation. This paper examines long-

term climate governance, particularly in relation to overcoming

"institutional inertia" that hampers the development of an effective and

timely response. It argues that when the influence of groups that fear

adverse consequences of mitigation policies is combined with scientific uncertainty, the

complexity of reaching global agreements, and long time frames, the natural tendency is for

governments to delay action, to seek to avoid antagonizing influential groups, and to adopt

less ambitious climate programs. http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/2009/05/19/000158349_20090519144015/Rendered/PDF/WPS4941.pdf

THE WORLD CONSERVATION UNION (IUCN)

PROTECTING THE OCEANS MAKES

ECONOMIC SENSE. Press Release. IUCN, 22 May

2009

Protecting the oceans through marine protected areas

can provide higher and more sustained income through

tourism and controlled fisheries than continued

exploitation. This is the result of IUCN‘s new

compilation of case studies about the economic benefits

of marine protected areas, launched on World

Biodiversity Day at the 2nd International Marine

Protected Area Congress in Washington, D.C. http://www.iucn.org/?3174/Protecting-the-oceans-makes-economic-sense

WORLD RESOURCES INSTITUTE

EMISSION REDUCTIONS UNDER THE AMERICAN CLEAN ENERGY AND

SECURITY ACT. John Larsen, Robert Heilmayr/ WRI, May 19, 2009

This analysis provides an assessment of reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that

could be achieved by Title III of the amendment in the nature of a substitute to H.R. 2454, the

American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACESA) sponsored by Chairmen Waxman and

Markey released on May 19, 2009. http://www.wri.org/publication/usclimatetargets

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JUICE FROM CONCENTRATE: REDUCING EMISSIONS WITH

CONCENTRATING SOLAR THERMAL POWER. Britt Childs

Staley, Jenna Goodward et al. WRI, May, 2009

In a world of rising energy prices, security concerns, and climate

change, the production of energy will need to change in fundamental

ways. In the electricity sector, certain renewable energy sources appear

ready for the mainstream, offering not just a solution to these challenges

but an exciting opportunity for investment, innovation, and job creation.

Many regions are deploying wind and solar energy, successfully

managing their intermittency. However, these resources are innately less predictable than

coal, which limits their use at high rates of market penetration and as reliable sources of

power around the clock (i.e., baseload electricity). Both developed and emerging economies

require reliable power supplies on demand, and many energy analysts routinely assert that

there is no realistic alternative to building more coal-fired power generators. http://www.wri.org/publication/juice-from-concentrate

SHARPENING THE CUTTING EDGE: CORPORATE ACTION

FOR A STRONG, LOW-CARBON ECONOMY. Samantha Putt del

Pino, Eliot Metzger et al. WRI, April, 2009

The window of opportunity to effectively respond to climate change is

now. Leading scientists warn that global greenhouse gas (GHG)

emissions must begin to decline in ten years if we are to avoid the worst

impacts of climate change. The United States is at a clear decision point.

The scale of the climate challenge, paired with the investments needed

to respond to a deep global recession, represent a unique opportunity to

shift to a low-carbon economy that can provide a stronger, safer and more sustainable future.

As users and producers of goods and services, businesses are central to an effective climate

change response. To be successful in a low-carbon future, companies must become expert in

today‘s best practice, emerging innovative practice and tomorrow‘s ―next‖ practice. This

report can help guide corporate actions over the next few years, as companies and

policymakers accelerate the pace of responding to climate change. http://www.wri.org/publication/sharpening-the-cutting-edge

WORLD WILDLIFE FEDERATION

‘MOUNTAINS OF THE MOON’ GET NOD FOR INTERNATIONAL WETLANDS

PROTECTIONS. World Wildlife Fund. May 13, 2009.

Part of the Rwenzori Mountains, home to some of the last glaciers in Africa and likely

Ptolemy‘s ‗Lunis Montae,‘ received international recognition on Wednesday as a protected

wetland site under the international Ramsar convention, a major conservation decision that

will help protect the region‘s vast ecological riches. http://www.panda.org/?164182/Mountains-of-the-Moon-get-nod-for-international-wetlands-protection

VAST RESERVE TO PROTECT REMOTE PRINCE EDWARD ISLANDS. World

Wildlife Fund. May 7, 2009.

South Africa‘s declaration to establish one of the world‘s largest Marine Protected Area‘s

(MPA) around its Prince Edward Islands, is a marine conservation achievement of global

Embassy of the United States of America ▪ Public Affairs Section

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importance which will help protecting a suite of spectacular wildlife, including albatrosses,

penguins and killer whales. http://www.panda.org/?163741/Vast-reserve-to-protect-remote-Prince-Edward-Islands

ARABIAN TAHR GETS ROYAL PROTECTION. World Wildlife Fund. April 28, 2009.

In a major conservation decision, the United Arab Emirates has established the Wadi

Wurayah Fujairah, home to the endangered Arabian Tahr and possibly the rare Arabian

Leopard, as the country‘s first protected mountain area. http://www.panda.org/?163161/Arabian-Tahr-gets-royal-protection

YANGTZE ESTUARY GETS A WELCOME FOCUS FROM RIVER FORUM. World

Wildlife Fund. April 21, 2009.

The Third Yangtze Forum declaration said that while the overall Yangtze River water

environment remains stable, lake eutrophication and water supply contamination still remain

major threats. To remedy this, forum participants suggested long-term mechanisms for

collaboration between the multitude of government, semi-government, private and civil

society bodies involved in monitoring and managing the river. http://www.panda.org/?162642/Yangtze-estuary-gets-a-welcome-focus-from-river-forum

ECO-ISLAM: MALAYSIA’S IMAMS TO PREACH AGAINST POACHING. World

Wildlife Fund. April 14, 2009.

Malaysia's Muslim preachers have been enlisted in the fight for wildlife conservation, using

passages from the Koran to raise awareness and help protect some of the world's most

endangered species. After a successful campaign last year, when more than 400 mosques in

the state of Terengganu held sermons focusing on turtle conservation issues, WWF decided to

extend the project to support efforts to tackle poaching. http://www.panda.org/?162082/Eco-Islam-Malaysias-Imams-to-preach-against-poaching

EEnnvviirroonnmmeennttaall IIssssuueess

June 2009

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